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The utility suite seems like an obvious solution: One package that contains all the tools needed to keep a computer running at its best. But it isn't that simple: A utility suite can't be just a bundle of goods; it has to be a good bundle. It should offer a sensible collection of tools that are tightly integrated into a single, comprehensible interface, and it shouldn't strain system resources.

Norton SystemWorks 2001 Standard Edition and Ontrack SystemSuite 3.0 were neck and neck in testing. Each provides all the core applications, including antivirus protection, Registry cleaners, and diagnostic tools. But ultimately it came down to performance, and SystemWorks, which includes our Editors' Choice for antivirus protection, won. Ontrack does have a wonderfully integrated suite where tools are organized by tasks, like Fix Wizard and Disk Cleanup, rather than by program. But since one of the roles of a suite is to make a system run faster, we couldn't ignore SystemSuite's substantial drain on PC performance.